Lightweight cellar doors



Sept. 12, 1967 Filed April 23, 1965 O. ERLANDSEN LIGHTWEIGHT CELLAR DOORS 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 0664/? ERLA /v0$/v Sept. 12, 1967 Filed April 23, 1965 O. ERLANDSEN LIGHTWEIGHT CELLAR DOORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 036/] R Em A/VDSE/V United States Patent 3,340,649 LIGHTWEIGHT CELLAR DOORS Oscar Erlandseu, Garden City, N.Y., assignor to Thurston Erlandsen Corporation, Sanford, Maine Filed Aug. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 481,491 8 Claims. (Cl. 49367) The present invention relates to doors and in particular to basement, hatchway, or cellar doors.

One of the serious objections to prior art cellar doors used with hatchways or in entryw-ays to basements and cellars has been the large weight resulting from the use of heavy gauge steel or cast iron which has necessitated the installation of counterbalancing weights or springs. Not only have these prior art doors been diflicult to open and close but they are known to be dangerous if they should accidentally close at a time when a person is emerging from the cellar.

The present invention is concerned with the use of relatively thin gauge sheet aluminum which is formed and shaped by bending so as to provide substantial strength in the cellar doors while at the same time retaining the desirable properties of light weight, attractive appearance and resistance to deterioration from adverse weather. The cellar doors of my invention are designed to be used with hatchways or frames which are mounted upon a foundation surrounding the entryway into the cellar or basement.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved lightweight cellar door.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved cellar doors that require no counterbalancing weights or springs.

Still another object of the invention is to provide cellar doors which are inexpensive to manufacture, easy to install and require little or no maintenance.

A further object is to provide improved cellar doors having longitudinally formed structural channels or corrugated sections for increased rigidity and strength.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide cellar doors that are more weather-resistant.

An additional object is to provide a simple and unique hinge construction formed as an integral part of the improved cellar doors.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved header assembly for supporting the top of the improved cellar doors.

Another object is to provide improved replacement cellar doors easily adapted for installation upon existing hatchways or frames.

The above objects of and the brief introduction to the present invention will be more fully understood and further objects and advantages will become apparent from a study of the following detailed description in connection with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the cellar doors for closing an entryway in accordance with a preferred embodiment of my invention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cellar. doors of FIG. 1 taken through section 2-2,

FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged end view of the righthand hinge configuration of the cellar doors of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 illustrates an enlarged end view of the inverted T header mounted across the top of the cellar doors of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of replacement cellar doors in accordance with my invention,

FIG. 6 is a bottom edge view of the cellar doors of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 illustrates the bottom edge view of the cellar 3,340,649 Patented Sept. 12, 1967 doors in accordance with FIG. 5 as mounted upon the foundation of a narrower entryway,

FIG. 8 illustrates an enlarged end view of the righthand hinge configuration of the cellar doors of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of my invention employing pre-corrugated door panels for forming the lightweight cellar doors.

Referring to FIG. 1, a top, front perspective view of the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated with the cellar doors closed. In this embodiment the cellar doors form an assembly with a hatchway for mounting as an assembled unit upon a suitable foundation 11 which may be constructed of cement, brick or other suitable material. The cellar door and hatchway assembly 12 is mounted upon the foundation 11 and attached thereto by suitable means. The side portions of the hatchway do not appear in FIG. 1 by virtue of the perspective view but consist of a left side 13 and a right side 14 of triangular configuration. The cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken through section 2-2 of FIG. 1 illustrates sides 13 and 14.

The cellar doors as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 lie in a slant plane and include a first or left-hand flange member 15 whose left-hand edge is integrally attached to the upper edge of side 13. The flange member 15 extends longitudinally for the length of the assembly as illustrated. The inner or right-hand edge of flange member 15 is bent and extends upward forming lip portion 16 as shown in FIG. 2. The upwardly extending lip portion 16 extends longitudinally along the flange member and is inclined at an angle with respect to the plane of flange member 15 as shown. In the preferred embodiment of my invention thelip portion 16 is cut and formed as a first longitudinal hinge portion 17. However, a suitable hinge, such as a piano type, may, if desired, be employed in which case it would be aflixed to lip portion 16.

A first or left-hand door panel 18 composed of thin sheet metal is formed and shaped as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The left hand or outer edge 19 of door panel 18 is bent downward as illustrated and, preferably, is cut and formed as a second longitudinal hinge portion 20 for mating with the first longitudinal hinge portion 17. The left-hand door panel is provided with bends 21, 22 and 23 forming a corrugated or inverted U-channel section. This corrugated or U-ch-annel section cooperates with the hinge construction and flange to provide the left-hand door panel 18 with beam strength along its length and at its left-hand side. This combination provides the door panel with'substantial strength while maintaining light weight.

The right-hand edge 24 of door panel 18 falls approximately along the center line of the cellar door and hatchway assembly. This right-hand edge is also formed as a corrugated or inverted U-channel section 25 which pro vides an additional longitudinal beam for strengthening door panel 18.

Situated on the right-hand side of the cellar door assembly is a right-hand flange member 26 whose righthand edge is integrally attached to side 14. The inner or left-hand edge of flange member 26 is bent upward as shown to form lip portion 27. The lip portion 27, preferably, is cut and shaped as a third longitudinal hinge portion 28. The right-hand door panel 29 has its right-hand or outer edge 30 bent downwardly as illustrated. This edge 30 includes a fourth longitudinal hinge portion 31 which has been cut and formed integrally with the righthand edge 30 for mating with the third longitudinal hinge portion 28.

The right-hand door panel 29 is provided with bends 32, 33 and 34, as illustrated, for forming a corrugated or inverted U-channel section which is similar to the U- channel section of the left-hand door panel 18. The righthand door panel 29 is also provided with bends at 35, 36 and 37 for forming an additional corrugated or inverted U-channel section. The left-hand edge of the right-hand door panel 29 has been rolled to form a longitudinally extending cylinder 38. The corrugations thus provided greatly increase the beam strength and rigidity of the right-hand door panel 29. As illustrated, the U-channel section of the right-hand door panel 29 formed by the bends 35, 36 and 37 overlaps the U-channel section 25 of the left-hand door panel 18. The under surf-ace of the portion of this overlapping U-channel section rests on top of the U-channel section 25 for the full length of the cellar door assembly for providing further increase in the strength and rigidity when the cellar doors are closed.

FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged end view of the righthand hinge configuration of FIGS. 1 and 2. The integral construction of hinge, door panel, and flange forming a beam is apparent in this figure. A longitudinal hinge pin or rod 39 locks the two hinge portions 28 and 31 for forming a piano type hinge. The dotted line portion 40 illustrates the open position of the right-hand door panel 29. As can be seen from this figure, the right-hand door panel opens fully Without binding. Similarly, the lefthand door panel opens fully about the first and second hinge portions 17 and 20 without binding.

An inverted T header member 41 is mounted across the top of the cellar door assembly of FIG. 1 between the left-hand and right-hand flange members 15 and 26. FIG. 4 illustrates this inverted T header as viewed from the right side of FIG. 1. The header consists of a first strip of metal 42 formed as a 90 degree angle and a second 90 degree angle piece 43 whose right-hand end is bent upward at 44 as shown. The angle strip 42 is joined to the angle piece 43 by welding, rivets, or other suitable means to form the inverted T, and the upper portion or tip 45 of angle strip 42 is rolled over the upper left-hand edge of angle piece 43 for additional strength and for weather sealing. The inverted T header member is mounted on the flange members 15 and 26 by bolts, rivets or other suitable means as shown. The upper or top edge portions of the door panels 18 and 29 rest upon and are supported by the bottom portion 46 of the inverted T header which provides beam strength. The upper portion 45 of the inverted T header extends above the inverted U-channel sections of door panels 18 and 29 thereby closing olf the opening existing in the upper ends of these door panels resulting from the inverted U-channel sec tions.

The openings in the ends of the inverted U-channel sections at the bottom edges of the door panels 18 and 29 are closed or plugged so as to provide a snug fit of the bottom edges of the door panels along the bottom surface of the foundation 11. A closed, snug fit is desired to make the cellar door and hatchway assembly rodentproof. For simplicity, the inverted U-channel section in the right-hand panel 29 formed by bends 32, 33 and 34 is illustrated as being plugged with foam plastic 47, which is affixed within the bottom edge portion of the U-channel section. Other suitable materials, such as wood or metal, may be employed instead of foam plastic. FIGURE 3 illustrates a portion of the foam plastic plug as afiixed to the upper portion of the U-channel section.

The inverted U-channel section formed along the lefthand side of door panel 18 is illustrated, for simplicity, as being closed by means of bending down a metal flap 48. The metal flap is attached to the upper edge portion of the U-channel section and may be formed integrally with the door panel 18. While the central inverted U- channel section formed in the right-hand door panel 29 by the bends 35, 36, 37 and 38, as well as the U-channel section 25 of the door panel 19, are illustrated as being open at the end, it will be understood that the openings in these channels will be closed in a similar manner for providing a snug fit along the bottom surface of the frame or foundation 11.

FIG. illustrates the preferred embodiment of a replacement cellar door assembly in accordance with my invention. This embodiment is intended for installation upon an existing hatch or cellar entryway 51 which may be level or slanted. The side portions of the entryway 51 do not appear in FIG. 5 in view of the nature of the perspective view. The cellar door assembly includes a first or left-hand flange member 55 whose left-hand edge is bent downwardly forming a longitudinally extending side portion 53. The flange member 55 extends longitudinally for the length of the assembly. The inner or right-hand edge of flange member 55 is bent downwardly for forming a lip portion 56 as shown. The downwardly extending lip portion 56 extends longitudinally for the length of the flange member and is inclined at an angle with respect to the plane of flange member 55. Preferably, lip portion 56 is cut and formed as a longitudinal hinge portion 57. This hinge portion is of the piano type. However, if desired, a separate piano type hinge may be used.

A first or left-hand door panel 58, which is composed of thin, sheet aluminum, is formed and shaped as illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. The left-hand or outer edge 59 of door panel 58 is bent upward as illustrated and, preferably, is cut and formed as a second hinge portion 60 for mating with the hinge portion 57. The right-hand edge 64 of door panel 58 is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 as extending generally along the center line of the entryway into the cellar. The right-hand edge is formed as a corrugated or inverted U-channel section 65 for providing longitudinal beam strength for the door panel 58.

Situated on the right-hand side of the cellar door assembly is a right-hand flange member 66 whose righthand edge is bent downwardly forming a longitudinally extending side portion 54. The inner or left-hand edge of flange member 66 is bent downwardly as shown to form lip portion 67. The lip portion67, preferably, is cut and shaped as a longitudinally extending hinge portion 68. The right-hand door panel 69 has its right-hand or outer edge 70 bent upwardly at an angle relative to the plane of the door panel 69 as illustrated. This edge 70 includes a hinge portion 71 which may be cut and formed integrally with the right-hand edge 70 for mating with the hinge portion 68. The right-hand door panel 69 is provided with bends at 75, 76 and 77 for forming an inverted U-channel section similar to the U-channel section 35, 36 and 37 of FIG. 1. The left-hand edge of the right-hand door panel 69 has been rolled to form a longitudinally extending cylinder 78. As illustrated, the U-channel section of the right-hand door panel 69 overlaps the U- channel section 65 of the left-hand door panel 58. The corrugations thus provided greatly increase the beam strength and rigidity of the door panels. It should be noted that the under surface of the portion of the inverted U- channel section of right-hand door panel 69 rests on top of the U-channel section 65 of door panel 58.

The overlapping U-channel sections of the right and lefthan-d door panels also provide for adjustability in mounting the replacement cellar doors of FIG. 5 upon an existing hatch or cellar entryway. FIG. 7 illustrates the placing of the replacement cellar door upon a narrower hatch or cellar entryway. The U-channel section of the right-hand door panel 69 is provided with substantial width in comparison with the U-channel section 65 of the left-hand door panel 58. This provides for adjustment in the overlap and enables the installation of the replacement cellar doors on a variety of sizes of existing cellar entryways. In addition, the left-hand flange member 55 with side 53 and the right-hand flange member 66 with side 54 are designed to have a width somewhat greater than the width of the side of the usual foundation upon which the cellar door assembly is intended to be mounted to provide for adjustability in aligning and mounting the replacement cellar doors.

FIG. 8 illustrates an enlarged bottom end view of the right-hand hinge configuration of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. The integral construction of hinge, door panel and flange is apparent in this figure. The dotted line portion 80 illustrates the open position of the right-hand door panel 69. As can be seen from this view, the right-hand door panel 69 opens fully without binding. Similarly, the left-hand door panel 58 will also open fully. The openings in the ends of the inverted U-channel sections at the bottom edges of the door panels 58 and 69 are closed to provide a snug fit to the bottom edges of these door panels along the bottom surface of the foundation 51. These inverted U-channels may be closed in a manner similar to the closing of the inverted U-channel members as illustrated in FIG. 1 either by a plug of foam plastic or other suitable material or by means of a metal flap. Additionally, any space between the hinge section of the right-hand door 69 and the existing foundation 51 may be sealed or closed by suitable plastic material 87. Any opening existing between the hinge of the lefthand door 58 and the foundation 51 may be sealed or closed by means of a plastic plug 88 or other suitable material. It should be noted that the plugs for sealing the openings need extend only part Way into the openings and do not extend for the length of the cellar door.

There is no header assembly illustrated in FIG. 5 across the top of the cellar door assembly, it being understood that the foundation 51 includes such a member. It is necessary, therefore, to insert plugs at the upper openings between the hinges and the existing foundation 51 in the same manner as at the bottom. Similarly, the openings in the U-channel sections formed by the bends 75, 76 and 77, as well as the U-channel sections 65, should be sealed at the upper ends of the cellar doors.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of my invention employing pre-corrugated aluminum material. This door assembly includes a left-hand flange member 95 whose left-hand edge forms a downwardly extending side portion 93. A corrugated left-hand door 98 has its left-hand edge bent and formed as a hinge portion for mating with the right-hand upwardly extending edge of flange 95 which has been similarly cut and formed as a hinge portion. This hinge assembly may be identical to the hinge assembly of the left-hand door illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The right-hand flange member 106 has its outer edge bent downwardly to form a side portion 104. The inner left-hand edge of flange 106 is bent upwardly, cut, and

formed into a hinge portion. The right-hand door 109 t is formed of pre-corrugated aluminum and its right-hand edge is bent downwardly, cut, and formed as a hinge portion to mate with the hinge portion of flange 106. The hinge assembly may be identical to that illustrated for the right-hand door of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The right-hand door 109 overlaps the left-hand door 98 as illustrated, and the corrugations form longitudinally extending beams for providing beam strength in the cellar door assembly. It will be understood that the openings in the ends of the corrugated sections are to be closed for providing a snug fit of the bottom edges of the door panels along the bottom surface of the frame or foundation in the same general manner as described and illustrated in the preferred embodiment of my invention.

both of the door panels of the cellar door assembly, and

the door panels may be locked or secured in the closed position by any conventional means which, if desired, may be attached to the under sides of the door panels.

The features of my invention are achieved by the combination of the integral door panel, hinge, and flange assembly which, together with the bent and formed door economical to manufacture. As illustrated, the door Conventional door handles may be affixed to either or panels may be fully opened with ease and closed with safety. The overlapping U-channel sections of different widths provide the replacement cellar door assembly with adjustability to fit different size entryways. The unique T header member cooperates with the cellar door assembly to close the openings in the upper ends of the door panels resulting from the corrugations, to provide a support for the upper ends of the door panels to rest upon, and to prevent water from entering the cellar entryway through the top of the cellar door assembly.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. The combination for closing a cellar, entryway having a frame construction surrounding said entryway, said frame construction providing a substantially rectangular opening into said entryway, the rectangular opening lying in a flat plane, comprising:

(a) a first flange member adapted to be attached to said frame along one side of said entryway, said first flange member having a longitudinally extending first lip portion along its inner edge, said first lip portion extending at an angle to the plane of said first flange member,

(b) a first longitudinal hinge portion extending along the edge of said first lip portion,

(c) a first door panel including a flat longitudinally extending central portion, an outer edge portion, and an inner edge portion, each of the edge portions of said first door panel being formed in the shape of an inverted U-channel section, said first door panel being composed of thin sheet metal and having a length somewhat greater than the length of the rectangular opening into said entryway,

(d) a second longitudinal hinge portion extending along the edge of the U-channel section forming the outer edge portion of said first door panel, said second longitudinal hinge portion mating wit hsaid first longitudinal hinge portion, said first and second hinge portions defining an axis about which said first door panel moves,

(e) a second flange member adapted to be attached to said frame along the opposite side of said entryway, said second flange member having a longitudinally extending second lip portion along its inner edge, said second lip portion extending at an angle to the plane of said second flange member,

(f) a third longitudinal hinge portion extending along the edge of said second lip portion,

(g) a second door panel including a flat longitudinally extending central portion, an outer edge portion, and an inner edge portion, each of the edge portions of said second door panel being formed in the shape of an inverted U-channel section, said second door panel being composed of thin sheet metal and having a length somewhat greater than the length of the rectangular opening, the U-channel section forming the inner edge portion of said second door panel overlapping the U-channel section forming the inner edge of said first door panel when said first and second door panels are closed,

(h) a fourth longitudinal hinge portion extending along the edge of the U-channel section forming the outer edge of said second door panel, said fourth longi tudinal hinge portion mating with said third longitudinal hinge portion, said third and fourth hinge portions defining an axis about which said second door panel moves, and

(i) means attached to the U-channel sections of said first and second door panels along the bottom edges thereof for closing the openings in the ends of said U-channel sections for providing a closed, snug fit of the bottom edges of said first and second door panels along the bottom surface of said frame.

2. The combination as defined by claim 1, wherein said first longitudinal hinge portion is cut and formed as an integral part of said first lip portion, said second longitudinal hinge portion is cut and formed as an integral part of the outer edge portion of said first door panel, a first hinge pin inter-locking said first and second longitudinal hinge portions; and wherein said third longitudinal hinge portion is cut and formed as an integral part of said second lip portion, said fourth longitudinal hinge portion is cut and formed as an integral part of the outer edge of said second door panel, and a second hinge pin inter-locking said third and fourth longitudinal hinge portions.

3. The combination as defined by claim 1, wherein the inverted U-channel section forming the inner edge portion of said second door panel is appreciably wider than the inverted U-channel section forming the inner edge of said first door panel to provide increased overlapping beam strength over the center of the cellar entryway when said first and second door panels are closed.

4. The combination as defined by claim 1, further comprising:

(j) an inverted T-header member mounted upon and extending between said first and second flange members across the top edge of said first and second door panels, said inverted T-header member forming a support for and closing the opening in the inverted U- channel sections of said first and second door panels when said door panels are closed.

5. The combination for closing a cellar entryway having a frame construction surrounding said entryway, said frame construction providing a substantially rectangular opening into said entryway, the rectangular opening lying in a plane, comprising:

(a) a left-hand flange member adapted to be attached to the left-hand side of said entryway, said left-hand flange member having a longitudinally extending first lip portion along its inner edge, said first lip portion extending at an angle to the plane of said left-hand flange member,

(b) a first longitudinal hinge extending along the edge of said first lip portion, said first longitudinal hinge including a first hinge pin,

(c) a left-hand door panel formed of thin sheet metal and shaped into substantially parallel, alternating ridges and grooves extending longitudinally of said door panel, said left-hand door .panel having an outer edge and an inner edge, said left-hand door panel having a length somewhat greater than the length of the rectangular opening into said entryway, the outer edge of said left-hand door panel being attached to said first longitudinal hinge,

(d) a right-hand flange member adapted to be attached to the right-hand side of said entryway, said righthand flange member having a longitudinally extending second lip portion along its inner edge, said second lip portion extending at an angle to the plane of said right-hand flange member,

(e) a second longitudinal hinge extending along the edge of said second lip portion, said second longitudinal hinge including a second hinge pin,

(f) a right-hand door panel formed of thin sheet metal and shaped into substantially parallel, alternating ridges and grooves extending longitudinally of said door panel, said right-hand door panel having an out er edge and an inner edge, said right-hand door panel having a length somewhat greater than the length of the rectangular opening into said entryway, the outer edge of said right-hand door panel being attached to said second longitudinal hinge, the inner edge of said right-hand door panel overlapping the inner edge of said left-hand door panel when said door panels are closed, and

(g) means attached to said left-hand and right-hand door panels along the bottom edges thereof for closing the openings in the ends of said panels resulting from said alternating ridges and grooves in order to provide a closed, snug fit of the bottom edges of said door panels along the bottom edge of said frame when said door panels are closed, the portions of said first and second longitudinal hinges below said first and second hinge pins, respectively, being situated outside said left-hand and right-hand door panels, respectively, when said left-hand and right-hand door panels are closed.

6. The combination as defined by claim 5, further comprising:

(h) an inverted T-header member mounted upon and extending between said left-hand and right-hand flange members across the top edges of said lefthand and right-hand door panels, said inverted T- header member forming a support for the top edges of said door panels and closing the opening in the ends of said door panels resulting from said alternating ridges and grooves when said door panels are closed.

7. The combination for closing a cellar entryway having a frame construction surrounding said entryway, said frame construction providing a substantially rectangular opening into said entryway, the rectangular opening lying in a slant plane, comprising:

(a) a left-hand door-flange assembly, said assembly including:

a longitudinally extending flange member of thin sheet metal adapted to be attached to the lefthand side of said entryway, said flange member having an inner edge formed and shaped into a first longitudinally extending hinge portion integral with said flange member, said hinge portion extending at an angle relative to the plane of said flange member,

a left-hand door panel formed of thin sheet metal and shaped into substantially parallel, alternating ridges and grooves extending longitudinally of said door panel, said door panel having a lefthand edge formed and shaped into a second longitudinally extending hinge portion integral with said door panel, said second longitudinally extending hinge portion mating with said first hinge portion 'for forming a first hinge, the righthand edge of said door panel extending approximately to the center line of the rectangular opening of said entryway,

(b) a right-hand door-flange assembly, said assembly including:

a longitudinally extending flange member of thin sheet metal adapted to be attached to the righthand side of said entryway, said flange member having an inner edge formed and shaped into a third longitudinal hinge portion integral with said flange member, said hinge portion extending at an angle relative to the plane of said flange member,

a right-hand door panel formed of thin sheet metal and shaped into substantially parallel, alternating ridges and grooves extending longitudinally of said door panel, said door panel having a right-hand edge formed and shaped into a fourth longitudinally extending hinge portion integral with said door panel, said fourth longitudinally extending hinge portion mating with said third hinge portion for forming a second hinge, the left-hand edge of said door panel extending beyond the center line of the rectangular opening of said entryway and overlapping the righthand edge of said left-hand door panel when said door panels are closed, and

(c) means attached to said left-hand and right-hand door panels along the bottom edges thereof for closing the openings in the ends of said door panels resulting from said alternating ridges and grooves for providing a closed, snug fit of the bottom edges of said door panels along the bottom edge of said frame 10 door panels when said door panels are closed, said inverted T-header mem ber closing the opening in the ends of said door panels resulting from said alternating ridges and grooves when said door panels are closed.

when said door panels are closed, the portions of said 5 first and second hinges directly below their respecfer nc s Clted itlivedaxesdot rltlatzgioni bleing 1gituated outsgclle said left- UNITED STATES PATENTS an an rig tan oorange assern res, respeciv ly, Wh n aid left-hand and right-hand door panels 23 5 2 67 are closed to prevent Water from entering into said 10 1 39 671 11/1921 E a 630 entryway through said first and second hinges. 2174989 10/1939 s f e a 9: 36 8. Th b' t' b 1 e com ma 1011 as defined y 0 arm 7, further com 3,047,912 8/ 96 Sobolewski 49 397 prising:

(d) an inverted T-header member mounted upon and extending between said left-hand door-flange assembly 15 DAVID WILLIAMOWSKY Primary Examiner and said right-hand door-flange assembly for sup- KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner.

porting the top edges of said left-hand and right-hand 

1. THE COMBINATION FOR CLOSING A CELLAR ENTRYWAY HAVING A FRAME CONSTRUCTION SURROUNDING SAID ENTRYWAY, SAID FRAME CONSTRUCTION PROVIDING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR OPENING INTO SAID ENTRYWAY, THE RECTANGULAR OPENING LYING IN A FLAT PLANE, COMPRISING: (A) A FIRST FLANGE MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME ALONG ONE SIDE OF SAID ENTRYWAY, SAID FIRST FLANGE MEMBER HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FIRST LIP PORTION ALONG ITS INNER EDGE, SAID FIRST LIP PORTION EXTENDING AT AN ANGLE TO THE PLANE OF SAID FIRST FLANGE MEMBER, (B) A FIRST LONGITUDINAL HINGE PORTION EXTENDING ALONG THE EDGE OF SAID FIRST LIP PORTION, (C) A FIRST DOOR PANEL INCLUDING A FLAT LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CENTRAL PORTION, AN OUTER EDGE PORTION, AND AN INNER EDGE PORTION, EACH OF THE EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST DOOR PANEL BEING FORMED IN THE SHAPE OF AN INVERTED U-CHANNEL SECTION, SAID FIRST DOOR PANEL BEING COMPOSED OF THIN SHEET METAL AND HAVING A LENGTH SOMEWHAT GREATER THAN THE LENGTH OF THE RECTANGULAR OPENING INTO SAID ENTRYWAY, (D) A SECOND LONGITUDINAL HINGE PORTION EXTENDING ALONG THE EDGE OF THE U-CHANNEL SECTION FORMING THE OUTER EDGE PORTION OF SAID FIRST DOOR PANEL, SAID SECOND LONGITUDINAL HINGE PORTION MATING WITH SAID FIRST LONGITUDINAL HINGE PORTION, SAID FIRST AND SECOND HINGE PORTIONS DEFINING AN AXIS ABOUT WHICH SAID FIRST DOOR PANEL MOVES, (E) A SECOND FLANGE MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME ALONG THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID ENTRYWAY, SAID SECOND FLANGE MEMBER HAVING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SECOND LIP PORTION ALONG ITS INNER EDGE, SAID SECOND LIP PORTION EXTENDING AT AN ANGLE TO THE PLANE OF SAID SECOND FLANGE MEMBER, (F) A THIRD LONGITUDINAL HINGE PORTION EXTENDING ALONG THE EDGE OF SAID SECOND LIP PORTION, (G) A SECOND DOOR PANEL INCLUDING A FLAT LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CENTRAL PORTION, EACH OF THE EDGE PORTION, AND AND INNER EDGE PORTION, EACH OF THE EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID SECOND DOOR PANEL BEING FORMED IN THE SHAPE OF AN INVERTED U-CHANNEL SECTION, SAID SECOND DOOR PANEL BEING COMPOSED OF THIN SHEET METAL AND HAVING A LENGTH SOMEWHAT GREATER THAN THE LENGTH OF THE RECTANGULAR OPENING, THE U-CHANNEL SECTION FORMING THE INNER EDGE PORTION OF SAID SECOND DOOR PANEL OVER LAPPING THE U-CHANNEL SECTION FORMING THE INNER EDGE OF SAID FIRST DOOR PANEL WHEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND DOOR PANELS ARE CLOSED, (H) A FOURTH LONGITUDINAL HINGE PORTION EXTENDING ALONG THE EDGE OF THE U-CHANNEL SECTION FORMING THE OUTER EDGE OF SAID SECOND DOOR PANEL, SAID FOURTH LONGITUDINAL HINGE PORTION MATING WITH SAID THIRD LONGITUDINAL HINGE PORTION, SAID THIRD AND FOURTH HINGE PORTIONS DEFINING AN AXIS ABOUT WHICH SAID SECOND DOOR PANEL MOVES, AND (I) MEANS ATTACHED TO THE U-CHANNEL SECTIONS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND DOOR PANELS ALONG THE BOTTOM EDGES THEREOF FOR CLOSING THE OPENINGS IN THE ENDS OF SAID U-CHANNEL SECTIONS FOR PROVIDING A CLOSED, SNUG FIT OF THE BOTTOM EDGES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND DOOR PANELS ALONG THE BOTTOM SURFACES OF SAID FRAME. 